Electric light fixture mounting



Dec. 5, 1967 0. A. COHEN ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE MOUNTING 2 SheetsShet 1 Filed Jan. 30, 1967 INVENTOR DAVID A.COHEN v ATTORNEY Dec. 5, 1967 D. A. COHEN 3,356,840

ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE MOUNTING Filed Jan. 30, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wvs/vroR DAVID A. COHEN BY A LQAWP ATTORNEY United States Patent ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE MOUNTING David A. Cohen, 744 Foothill Drive, San Mateo, Calif. 94402 Filed Jan. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,384 5 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A light fixture mounting structure employing a releasable yoke member to detachably secure a fixture to an outlet box. A receptacle is recessed within the box on a riser member, and a plug member carried by the yoke member and connected to the fixture is inserted into the box to make electrical connections. The yoke member releasably engages the box cover to support the plug and fixture, and the riser member prevents the ends of the yoke member from contacting wiring within the box.

Related applications This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 535,439, filed Mar. 18, 1966.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to electric light fixture mountings, and relates more particularly to such mountings by means of which light fixtures may be easily installed and removed.

In the above-identified application, there is disclosed a light fixture mounting structure which permits the easy installation and removal of light fixtures from wall and ceiling outlets. That light fixture mounting structure employs a yoke member which supports a male plug element connected to the fixture and engageable with a female receptacle outlet in the box. The yoke member is releasably engaged with a cover on the outlet box to permit easy installation and removal of the fixture, and when the yoke member is engaged with the outlet box cover, it serves the dual functions of mechanically supporting the fixture and preventing any rotation or other undesired movement of the plug in the receptacle. This structure permits the installation and removal of light fixtures without requiring the splicing and unsplicing of wires or the use of large canopies to hide the connections, as required in the prior art devices.

Summary of the invention The structure of the present invention is an improvement on my above device which retains all the advan-' tages of that device while providing several additional desirable features. In accordance with this invention, a riser member is employed to position the female receptacle within the outlet box, and this riser is constructed so that the receptacle is recessed within the outlet box, rather than having its surface flush with the outer surface of the box as in my prior device. By having the receptacle recessed within the box, this permits the plug to be inserted at least partly within the box for making connection with the receptacle. This, in turn, results in less of the plug' extending or protruding from the outlet box and permits the yoke member, which supports the plug, to be made shallower so that all types of fixture canopies may be employed, even those with a very shallow depth. An additional function of the riser member is to cover the ends of the yoke member which extend through the cover or adapter plate on the outlet box, to prevent these ends from coming into electrical contact with the wires in the box.

3,356,840 Patented Dec. 5, 1967 In the preferred form of the invention, the riser member is secured to the cover or adapter plate for the outlet box and extends somewhat above it into the box. The female receptacle is secured to the riser member so as to position the electrical receptacle openings over the central opening in the adapter plate. The receptacle is thus recessed within the outlet box, and the plug may be inserted through the central opening in the adapter plate to engage the receptacle, with a portion of the plug disposed within the outlet box. The yoke member is then releasably engaged with special openings in the adapter plate to firmly hold the plug in the receptacle and to support the fixture. The riser member extends over the ends of the yoke which protrude through the openings in the adapter plate, thus preventing these ends from making electrical contact with wiring within the outlet box.

The present invention may be employed With any suitable type of fixture, including cord-hung or chain-hung. If a cord-hung fixture is employed, the fixture will be provided with a cord restrainer which is supported by the yoke member and which serves to remove any strain from the wires in the plug. If a chain-hung fixture is utilized, the yoke member is provided with a hook to receive the end of the chain. Similarly, the present invention may be employed in fixtures with or without plastering rings.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved lighting fixture mounting which is easily installed and removed and which results in a compact structure.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture mounting employing a yoke member which is detachably secured to an adapter plate cover on an outlet box having a female receptacle recessed therein, the yoke member supporting an electrical plug which extends into the outlet box to mate with the receptacle when the yoke is positioned by extending the ends thereof through openings in the adapter plate.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lighting fixture mounting employing a yoke member which is detachably secured to an outlet box cover carrying a riser member which positions a female receptacle in recessed position within the outlet box, the yoke member supporting an electrical plug which extends into the outlet box to mate with the receptacle when yoke is positioned by extending the ends thereof through openings in the cover.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a lighting fixture mounting employing a yoke member which is detachably secured to an outlet box cover carrying a riser member which positions a female receptacle in recessed position within the outlet box, the yoke member supporting an electrical plug which extends into the outlet box to mate with the receptacle when the yoke is positioned by extending the ends thereof through openings in the cover, the riser member extending beyond the ends of the yoke member to prevent con-' tact of the ends with the wiring the outlet box.

Brief description of the drawings Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the details of the mounting structure of this invention used to suspend a ceiling lighting fixture;

FIGURE 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the mounting structure, illustrating the hinging action of the yoke member;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the yoke member;

3 FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a plastering ring which may be employed with the present invention; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the riser member and adapter plate of the mounting structure.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to FIGURE 1, the invention is illustrated in connection with mounting a light fixture 11 on a ceil-' ing12i Ceiling. 12 maybe provided with a conventional junctionor outlet box 13, as shown, which is secured to ceiling 12 and rafters by any suitable means, such as by a strap 14 extending. across adjacent rafters. Electrical power is supplied into box 13' by conductors 16 which are connected to a suitable power source (not shown). Conductors 16 are connected within box 13 to a receptacle 17 having openings therein for the insertion of the prongs of an electrical plug. Receptacle 17 may be of any suitable type; such as one having three openings therein for receiving a-three prong-plug;

Receptacle 1-7 i s mounted on a riser member 18 which locates the receptacle in a recessed position within box 13, As'best shown in FIGURE 5, riser member'18 has a generally planar surface having an opening therein for receiving receptacle 17 Riser member 18 is also provided with a pair of downwardly extending legs or tabs 18b which support the riser member on an adapter plate 21. Legs 18!) maybe secured to adapter plate 21 by any suitable means, such as spot welding or the like.

Adapter plate 21 supports riser member 18' and receptacle 17, and is secured to the outlet box'in any suitable manner; If a plastering ring is employed in mounting the fixture, as is required under the electrical codes in some areas, this ring will be secured to theoutlet box, and the adapter plate in turn will be secured to the plastering ring. In theillustrated embodiment, such a' plastering ring 23' is assumed to beu's'edrAs shown, ring23- is securedto outlet box 13 by screws 24 (FIGURE 1-) which-extend through openings 23a (FIGURE 4) in the ring and engage corresponding threaded openingsinbox 13'. The lower end of ring' 23, which is. flush with the ceiling surface on which the fixture isto be mounted, is'- provided with threaded openings 23b (FIGURE 4) to receivescrews-ZS which pass through corresponding openings 21b (FIG- URE 5) inadapter plate 21 to secure the adapter plate, as well as riser 18 and receptacle 17, to the plastering ring and outlet box'13.

On the other hand, Whenno plasteringring is employed, outlet box'13 willbe' mounted sothat its lower edge is flush with the ceiling surface, and adapter plate 21 will be secureddirectly'thereto by screws 24-extending through openings 21a-in the-adapter plateand-engaging the'threaded openings inbox 16:

Receptaclev 17 is secured-to riser member 18 in any suitable manner, suchas by'makingthe' receptacle of a: twopart construction. Thismay take-the form of-an upper portion 17a and a lower portion-17b whichis detachably secured to the upper portion. Lower portion-l7b is slightly larger than the rectangular opening in riser member 18, and-whenmember 17b is tightened to-rnember 1721, the receptacle is clamped'to riser IS' betWeenmember 17 band ribs 170 on upper member 17a.

Referring now to: FIGURE 3,.v this invention provides a yoke member 27 which serves the dual functions of mechanically supporting'the fixture 'relative' to box 13 andoflfirmlypOsitioningthe electrical plug .which mates with receptacle 17' in box' 13. Yo'ke '27- is-ofthe general shape shown in FIGURE 3 and is provided at each end with 'upwardlyexten'din'g tab or tip portions 270, 272i having a T-shape, These tip portions cooperate with corresponding openings 21c, 21d (FIGURE 5) in adapter plate zl tof provi'dea' locking'action forthe yoke. Thewidth of the head'of the T-shaped portio'n 27c is suchthat it will not pass through the large portion of the:opening 210. Thus, whentip portion 270 is inserted throughthe narrow portion of opening 21c, the head portion of the tip will act to hold the yoke at that end.

The width of the head of the T-shaped portion 27d is such that it will pass through the corresponding head of the T -shaped slot 21d. By making yoke 27 of a material having a suitable resilience or spring, and by designing it such that the distance between tips 27c, 27d is slightly larger than the distance between openings 21c, 21d, it will be seen that a locking action is provided. That is, tip 27c is first inserted in opening 21c through the narrow shank portion thereof. Then tip 270! is pressed inwardly sufiiciently to allow it to-pass through the head of the T- shaped slot 210].

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, opening-211i is provided with upstanding lugs 2le as shown (FIGURE 5) which extend abovethe adapter plate and serve to more firmly lock tip-27d of yoke member 27 in'opening- 21d. Aftertip 27d is inserted through opening 21d, it is raised above lugs 21c, andthe pressure on the yoke is then released. This causes the end of the yoke to spring outwardly with the shank of the T of tip 27d sliding in the correspondingshank of the T of slot 21d. It will be seen that lugs 21c prevent tip 270. from being dislodged from opening 21d by accident or inadvertence. However, the yoke may be easily removed by lifting tip27d above lugs 21'? and then pressing the end of the yoke inwardly until it overlies the T-shaped portion of opening 21d so that the tip 27d may then be pulled downwardly to free it"from opening 21d.

In addition to the above supporting action, the yoke member also positions and supports the electrical plug which cooperates with receptacle 1 7. This plug'maybe of any suitable type, such as a plug 31 having prongs 31a which are adapted to extend into the openings in receptacle 17. As seen in FIGURE 2, plug 31- haselectrical conductors 32, surrounded by an insulating sheath- 33, connected thereto internally and extending therefrom to fixture 11, Conductors 32 preferably have sufiicientslack in the adjacent plug. 31' to permit plug-31 to-be inserted into receptacle 17 when yoke 27 is in the released position shown in FIGURE 2.

After insertion of plug 31 in receptacle 17, yoke 27 may beswung upwardly from the position of- FIGURE 2 to thelocked position described above and shown-in FIG- URE 1.-The-depth of yoke 27- is selected relative to the height of plug 31 so that even though the plug: is not physically secured to the yoke, when the yoke is in the locked position shown inFIGUREL-the yoke firmly supports and positions the plug in-receptacle 17, preventing any rotation or other undesired movement of the plug;

Yoke 27 also carries a threaded nipple 36 which extends downwardly therefrom and is secured to the yoke by a pair of locknuts 37a, 37b. Nipple 36 may be provided with a bushing 38' (FIGURE 1-) which engages the lower nipple threads-to clamp" a canopy 39' against ceiling 12 after installation of the fixture.

In the illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that a cord-hung, fixture is to be employed. In this situation,.a cord restrainer 41 may be employed. As is well known in the art, cord restrainer 41- iscrimpedto, or otherwise secured to,- conductors 32 and their outer covering 33 to relieve theseconductors of any mechanicalstrain in plug 31. Cord restrainer 41 is physically supportedby yoke member 27, such as by having an enlargedportion which seats on the top of locknut 37a, Yoke member 27, by supporting. cord restrainer 41-, thus supports the weight of the fixture, which is secured to conductors 32 and insulation 33.

In thecase of a chain-hung fixture, it will be clear that yoke member 27 may be provided with a hook or the like-to receive a link of the fixture chain for supporting the'fixture, while the electrical conductors pass through nipple 36 for connection to thefixture.

Installation of the fixture hanger of this invention'is as follows, assuming that an adapter plate 21, riser member 18 and receptacle 17 are in place. Tip 270 of yoke member 27 is inserted in slot 210 of adapter plate 21, and prongs 31a of plug 31 are inserted into the corresponding openings in receptacle 17. Yoke 27 is then moved upwardly about the hinge formed by tip 27c, and tip 27d is then inserted into opening 21d as described above to firmly lock yoke 27 and the fixture to box 13 and to firmly clamp plug 31 in position relative to receptacle 17. Bushing 38 may then be advanced on nipple 36 to clamp canopy 39 against ceiling 12 to conceal box 13 and yoke 27.

Removal of the fixture is correspondingly simple and is accomplished by backing ofi bushing 38 to lower canopy 39 and then pressing upwardly and inwardly on the one side of yoke 27 to free tip 27d from slot 21d, as described above, and then dropping that end of the yoke clear of adapter plate 21. Plug 31 may then be removed from receptacle 17, and the entire assembly removed by removing tip 270 from opening 21c.

It will be seen that the use of the riser member of this invention permits receptacle 17 to be recessed within box 13 so that plug 31 may extend into box 13 to make electrical connections. This, in turn, results in less of plug 31 extending outside box 13 so that yoke 27 may be made shallower, thus permitting the use of shallower canopies. Additionally, it will be seen that riser member 18 extends beyond the ends or tips 27c, 27d of yoke 27 as they extend through openings 21c, 21a in adapter plate 21. This is effective to prevent these ends 27c, 27d from inadvertently coming into electrical contact with any of the wiring 16 within box 13.

Thus, the present invention provides all of the advantages of the invention of my above-identified application in permitting easy installation and removal of light fixtures, and the present invention has the additional advantages of producing a shallower mounting and of providing protection against inadvertent electrical contact within box 13 by the ends of the yoke member 27.

While the above detailed description has shown, described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for mounting an electrical fixture from an outlet box, comprising:

an adapter plate adapted to fit over said box;

a riser member secured to said adapter plate and disposed in said box;

an electrical receptacle secured to said riser member and recessed within said box;

a yoke member releasably engaging said adapter plate;

an electrical plug member for mating with said receptacle in said box, said plug member being disposed above said yoke member and being separable therefrom when said yoke member is disengaged from said adapter plate to permit connection and disconnection of said plug member in said receptacle;

said plug member being supported by said yoke memher in at least a partially recessed position in said box when said yoke member is engaged with said adapter plate to maintain good electrical contact between said plug member and said receptacle;

means electrically connecting said plug member to the electrical fixture; and

fixture supporting means carried by said yoke member for supporting the electrical fixture when said yoke member is engaged with said adapter plate, said yoke member being releasable from said adapter plate to permit disconnection of said plug member from said receptacle and removal of said fixture.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said riser member has a planar surface generally parallel with and spaced from said adapter plate and is provided with a central opening for receiving said receptacle.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the ends of said yoke member extend through openings in said adapter plate to engage said adapter plate, and said riser member extends beyond said ends of said yoke member to prevent said ends from making electrical contact with wiring within said box.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said openings in said adapter plate have T-shapes, and said ends of said yoke member have a T-shape to releasably engage said openings in said adapter plate.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a plastering ring secured to said box, said adapter plate be ing secured to said plastering ring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,501,029 7/ 1924 Sargent 240 2,199,905 5/ 1940 Arras 240-85 2,992,323 7/1961 Fletcher 240-85 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

G. M. HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING AN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE FROM AN OUTLET BOX, COMPRISING: AN ADAPTER PLATE ADAPTED TO FIT OVER SAID BOX; A RISER MEMBER SECURED TO SAID ADAPTER PLATE AND DISPOSED IN SAID BOX; AN ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE SECURED TO SAID RISER MEMBER AND RECESSED WITHIN SAID BOX; A YOKE MEMBER RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID ADAPTER PLATE; AN ELECTRICAL PLUG MEMBER FOR MATING WITH SAID RECEPTACLE IN SAID BOX, SAID PLUG MEMBER BEING DISPOSED ABOVE SAID YOKE MEMBER AND BEING SEPARABLE THEREFROM WHEN SAID YOKE MEMBER IS DISENGAGED FROM SAID ADAPTED PLATE TO PERMIT CONNECTION AND DISCONNECTION OF SAID PLUG MEMBER IN SAID RECEPTACLE; SAID PLUG MEMBER BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID YOKE MEMBER IN AT LEAST A PARTIALLY RECESSED POSITION IN SAID BOX WHEN SAID YOKE MEMBER IS ENGAGED WITH SAID ADAPTER PLATE TO MAINTAIN GOOD ELECTRICAL CONTACT BETWEEN SAID PLUG MEMBER AND SAID RECEPTACLE; MEANS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING SAID PLUG MEMBER TO THE ELECTRICAL FIXTURE; AND FIXTURE SUPPORTING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID YOKE MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE ELECTRICAL FIXTURE WHEN SAID YOKE MEMBER IS ENGAGED WITH SAID ADAPTER PLATE, SAID YOKE MEMBER BEING RELEASABLE FROM SAID ADAPTER PLATE TO PERMIT DISCONNECTION OF SAID PLUG MEMBER FROM SAID RECEPTACLE AND REMOVAL OF SAID FIXTURE. 